Bodoland’s Youth Lead Region’s Remarkable Shift from Conflict to Football Excellence

Bongaigaon Times: BTR: 30th June 2025: Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his ‘Maan ki baat’ on Sunday (29.06.2025) lauded Assam’s Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), once associated with conflict, for now being recognized for the football talent of its youth. He said young players from the area have overcome hardships to excel on the field, becoming an inspiration for people across the country.

Once marked by unrest, Assam’s Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) is now emerging as a beacon of sporting spirit, with local youths turning the football field into a stage for hope and ambition. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently highlighted this transformation, noting how the region has shifted from a history of violence to a future built on opportunity and self-belief.

A clear sign of this change is the massive Bodoland CEM Cup currently underway. This football competition has attracted thousands of teams and tens of thousands of players many of them young women who are showing that Bodoland’s future belongs to determined, talented youth ready to make their mark.

Local players who have already earned recognition at higher levels are inspiring others to dream bigger. Despite having limited resources, these athletes are proving that dedication can overcome challenges, and they’re helping put Bodoland on India’s sports map.

The tournament, organized across all five districts of BTR, involves hundreds of village-level committees and features multiple rounds of competition. With significant funding and attractive prize money, it not only encourages participation but also reflects a wider push to bring peace, pride, and progress to the region.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma praised the development, saying the success of such a large-scale event would have been unimaginable in the past. He credited the combined efforts of state and central leadership with helping channel young people’s energy into constructive paths, turning a once-troubled area into a vibrant center of sports and unity.

Sannya Sangma,
Bongaigaon Times